Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in North Slope Borough, United States.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers 19.3 million acres (7.8 million hectares) of wilderness in northeastern Alaska, including mountain ranges, tundra plains, and coastal zones. The landscape stretches from the peaks of the Brooks Range to the Beaufort Sea, providing habitat for caribou, polar bears, wolves, and more than two hundred bird species.
President Dwight Eisenhower established this protected area in 1960 to preserve the natural resources and wildlife populations of the Arctic region. Later expansions increased the size significantly, securing additional ecosystems for future generations.
The Gwich'in people call the coastal plain Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit and continue their traditional relationship with the land. Indigenous communities use this territory for hunting and gathering, maintaining practices passed down through generations.
Access requires careful planning and usually involves chartered aircraft, as no roads lead into or exist within the area. Visitors should prepare for extreme weather conditions and complete isolation, as infrastructure and emergency services are absent.
The coastal plain is called Iizhik Gwats'an Gwandaii Goodlit, "The Sacred Place Where Life Begins", by the Gwich'in, because the 152,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd calves there. The refuge also holds all three North American bears: polar bear, grizzly and American black bear, each in its own ecological niche.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,454 contributors worldwide.
